Author's note: This is just raw material. I'm putting this up for a trial and delete it next week. I want to see what readers think of the first chapter and proceed. I'll publish other chapters when I'm done completing the story as a whole. Might take a year or two to complete. And I'm not gonna bother hurting my fingers typing how each and every character looks like except for those I decide to add or change the appearance of those who already exist.

"Juha Bach"

"Shiro-nii"

"Aka-nee"

"Ao"

"Talking"

'Thinking'

Chapter 1: I'm a what?

It's been a year since she died. A year since the sun of his universe vanished. And he was the one to blame. Though people always told him it wasn't his fault, he had always considered himself to be the one at fault.

He has always been able to see spirits. He later understood that it was a spirit that lured him and got his mother killed. But why didn't he see the one killing her? Or rather, why'd he black out immediately after reaching the girl?

He then started to believe that whoever was in contact with him would end up dying with him being the reason. So he shut himself off from his peers. Only talking to his family members and no one else. He stopped going to the dojo where he learnt karate. He wanted to protect, that's why he kept himself away from the others.

Though a common bunch did always get close to him considering themselves as the hunter and him their prey. Could they help it? No. He was always protected by his friend Tatsuki whenever he was being picked on, but now? She wasn't here. And that's why, ever since he's cut off his connection to her, he grew stronger even if he didn't attend the karate classes. And just now, he got rid of about four kids a bit older than him and was on his way home.

Though the reason for him getting stronger was his father. Ever since he stopped going to the dojo, his father said he'd be the one to make his son stronger and keep his senses sharp. So just like usual, as soon as he opened the door to his house, his father came at him flying.

"WELCOME HOME ICHIIIIGOOOO!" His father came at him with a kick. Ichigo quickly sidestepped and dodged the attack before immediately elbowing the man in the gut. "You're improving my son. Keep it up."

His father said as he rubbed his gut. Ichigo just grunted and went to his room.

After a moment, he came down and went to the kitchen and started cooking dinner. He checked up on his sisters earlier and found them asleep taking a nap. He decided he'd wake them up when he's done cooking. He took the cooking recipe book and followed each steps.

After an hour or two, he was done cooking and took a taste. It was curry and it tasted good, at least to him. He then called out to his dad and went to wake his sisters up. After that they ate dinner and Ichigo was complimented on how good his cooking was. Yuzu being the one to resemble their mother immediately demanded that he start teaching her how to cook. He agreed to it and said that he'd teach her only the small and easy steps at first and move on to bigger ones later when she grows up. While Yuzu took after their mother, Karin took after him.

It didn't matter to him with who took after who. As long as his family was happy and safe, he'd live with it.

After dinner Yuzu joined him and their father in cleaning the dishes while Karin watched the TV. With three pairs of hands, the cleaning was done earlier and the three of them took a breather. Ichigo asked if anyone would go take a bath. When they said they were done, he got up and went to the bath.

Later that night, on his bed, Ichigo was thinking about the picture that he drew with his mother. He closed his eyes and imagined him being there with his family enjoying their picnic and before he knew it he was asleep…

Feeling something soft and a bit wet under him, he opened his eyes but the scene that he was greeted to was not the ceiling of his room. Rather, he was hit with the rays of the sun. He quickly covered his eyes with his arm and pushed himself up to a sitting position.

After adjusting to the sudden introduction to the rays of light, he removed his arm and looked at the scenario before him.

He was sitting on a soft lush grass. It was a bit wet from what he could tell and looked to his surroundings. His eyes widened when he saw to his right many skyscrapers and small buildings and houses along with convenience stores and a mall. Then he looked to his far left and saw the forest. In front of him were small flowers and plants. Further ahead he saw a big tree. After a few moments of thinking and observing he concluded that he was in the place he drew with his mother. Many would panic if they were in a place they never went to but Ichigo on the other hand felt safe.

The thoughts of his mother hurt him and rain started falling as if the skies were crying in tune to his soul.

"Don't be upset Ichigo." A deep voice rang from behind him. He stood up and looked behind him to see a middle aged man in some kind of black cloak constantly blowing with a pair of shades looking up at the sky. "It rains whenever you're upset or sad. And I hate the rain. I'd much prefer bathing in the rays of the sun than be wet."

Ichigo clearly heard the man and despite not knowing him, he felt as if he actually did. And he could tell that the man wasn't hostile and so, he loosened up. "Who are you? How do you know me? Where am I? And why-"

"Why do you feel like you know me?" The man asked as he craned his neck to look at Ichigo. Ichigo was surprised that the man knew what his question would've been but nodded nonetheless. "It's simple. I'm a part of you. A part of your soul. That's why you feel like you know me. As for where… this place is your inner world or soul. Since you've always treasured this place in your picture that you've drawn, your inner world turned to this."

The man finished with a wave of his hand. "As for who… my name is Juha Bach and I'm the representation of your Quincy powers."

Ichigo was confused. His inner world? His soul looks like this? What's an inner world? The man in front of him is a part of him? And what does he mean by 'Quincy powers'?

Sensing his confusion, Juha Bach sighed and said, "Ichigo. Follow me. There're more people waiting to meet you." He walked away towards the forest with Ichigo trotting behind him.

The trees in the forest varied from small to big but all of them were beautiful to say the least. He kept following the man and soon heard the sound of rushing water. He was then greeted to the sight of a small blue lake with rocks, hills and trees surrounding it. One of the hills had a waterfall which kept supplying the lake with water. The scene in front of him was in every sense, beautiful.

"It's so beautiful." Ichigo breathed out with a smile.

"It is, isn't it?" A warm feminine voice came from his right. A figure soon came into sight from among the shadows between the trees. It was a young lady who was a bit younger than his mother and was a drop dead gorgeous woman with a well-endowed figure that many would kill to get. She had long reddish-orange hair tied into a loose ponytail that was brought forward and rested over her left breast. Her eyes were greenish-blue. Her skin was light and fair toned and a warm and gentle smile was present on her beautiful face wearing a blue kimono which had white floral patterns and a full moon colored orange and red obi. "I suppose we're meeting for the first time aren't we?" She asked in a melodious voice that sounded like music to his ears.

He blushed a bit and nodded looking down not finding confidence in his voice. The lady giggled at him cutely trying to hide his blush. He was about to ask her a question but was interrupted by another feminine voice. This one was younger and had a light angry touch to it.

"About damn time you showed up!" The voice exclaimed from atop a tree. The girl dropped down before him and looked at him with a scowl that rivaled his. She had crystalline-blue hair and glowing red eyes wearing a red kimono which had blue flame patterns and a full moon and blue obi. She looked older than him but younger than the other woman.

The older woman then hissed at her. "Language! He's still a child!" The younger of the two huffed and crossed her arms under her rather well endowed breasts which comparatively were smaller than that of the older one.

Ichigo looked up at Juha Bach who nodded at him. He then coughed in his hand and looked at them. "Who are you two?"

The younger one looked at her counterpart incredulously and exclaimed, "You didn't tell him who we are?!"

"It's his first time meeting us!"

The blue haired one shut up and looked at him with a harsh and calculating gaze. Then she nodded to the older one and looked at him.

Together they spoke up, "Our name is …"

Ichigo looked at the two in confusion. He saw them utter the name but why didn't he hear it? "Sorry, can you repeat your name again?"

The duo sighed and repeated again but the results were the same.

"Great! Our brat of a master can't hear us!" The younger one exclaimed. The older one frowned and looked at Ichigo who was cutely glaring at her counterpart for calling him a brat.

"I'm sorry Ichigo but it looks like you're not ready to learn our name yet." She said sadly. She then perked up and said, "For now, call me Aka (red) and call her Ao (blue)."

Ichigo frowned and asked why he wasn't ready to hear their names yet. She said, "You're a shinigami and we two are you zanpakuto spirits. We're like Juha Bach and are also parts of your soul but represent your shinigami powers."

Ichigo was now severely confused. The old guy says he was his Quincy powers and the female duo says that they're his zanpakuto and he was a shinigami. What does that mean?

"It means you're a hybrid you little wimp!" The younger of the duo said.

"I'm not a wimp!" Ichigo retaliated back at her.

She simply rose her left eyebrow and crossing her arms she said, "Oh really? Then who was the one who started crying like a baby every time he lost to a girl and had to be calmed down by his mother?" Her harshness even irritated Juha Bach and he about to protest until a distorted voice spoke up.

"You better watch your mouth. You're talking to the king." All of them looked behind to see a masked man in white long full-sleeved coat with black fur on the collar and wrists walk in their direction. He had long white hair and a fearsome black mask with horns protruding from the temples with white markings. "Need I remind you what the king has been going through the last year?" The figure said as it stood beside Ichigo and looked down at him. He didn't want to show himself to his king now, but he just wouldn't tolerate his king being made fun of even if it was a part of his soul. He was expecting his king to be scared but he didn't expect the response he got from his king.

"You look so cool! How'd you get that mask?" Ichigo asked tugging on his hakama with big eyes full of wonder. "And what's under your mask? Why're you hiding your face?"

The white being was bit surprised at seeing his king look at him with no traces of fear, just pure childish wonder.

"Like she said, you'll learn our names and what's underneath the mask when we deem you ready for it."

Ichigo frowned and observed the figure from head to toe. "Then can I call you Shiro-nii for now?" The masked figure nodded before going silent. The first one spoke up.

"It's about time you go Ichigo." Ichigo looked at him in confusion and nodded. When nothing happened, he became embarrassed and asked how he could go. "Will yourself to return and you will. Oh and also ask your father what shinigami, hollows and Quincies are."

Ichigo willed himself to leave and slowly started disappearing into spirit particles. Before he was completely gone, he asked the new member, "Then what do you represent?"

The masked figure looked at his king and said, "I represent your hollow powers." And then he was gone.

The next morning when Ichigo woke up he was wondering if what he saw and experienced was a dream or not. His answer came from the back of his mind by Aka confirming that their meeting was indeed true and not some dream.

He then got ready for school and went to the kitchen to make breakfast. By the time he was done, the whole family was on the table with Yuzu and Karin all messed up.

They ate the breakfast in peace and Ichigo sent the twins to freshen up and get ready for school. When he was sure he and his father were alone, he turned to him with a serious expression and called out to him. "Dad. We need to talk."

Ichigo's seriousness caught him off guard a bit. "What is it son?" His father asked curious as to what was it that they needed to talk about for him to be so serious. Could it be that his son found out about his powers? No that shouldn't be possible after what was done after his mother's death. Ichigo didn't meet any shinigami nor hollows yet or quincies for that matter.

"Tell me…" Ichigo began with a scowl staring right at his father's eyes. "… what are you? A shinigami? Quincy? Hollow? Which one?"

Isshin stared at him blankly. So the worst has happened? But how did his son find out? He shook his head and asked, "Where did you hear those?" He decided instead of hiding he'd tell him he truth. Much to his surprise his son told him about his trip to his inner world which looked like the picture that he drew with his mother. "Hmm… well son, I was a shinigami." So his son had already met his zanpakuto spirits.

"Really? But what are they? And what are hollows and Quincies for that matter? And what do you mean by 'was'?"

"Well son… to answer your questions I'll take you to a place where you can learn what they are after your school."

Ichigo nodded in acceptance just in time his sisters announced that they were ready. The father dropped his children off at their school and instead of returning to the clinic he went somewhere else. A nearby shop.

The father arrived at the shop 'Urahara Shoten' within a few minutes. He knocked on the door three times and waited. He was greeted by the shopkeeper himself.

"My my, Isshin. What brings you here?" Urahara asked. Seeing his serious face Urahara beckoned him to follow him deeper inside the shop. On the way he asked Tessai to bring them tea. "So… what happened? You seem unusually serious." He asked sitting down with Isshin opposite to him.

"Your plan failed." That was all Isshin said as he looked down at his cup of tea.

Urahara hummed and asked, "What makes you say that?" He asked seriously. All his traces of joviality gone.

"Ichigo visited or rather was pulled to his inner world and met his zanpakuto, Quincy and hollow spirits."

Urahara was shocked. His plan failed? Last year after Masaki's death Isshin came to him to find a way to seal off Ichigo's rampant reiatsu. He was given two options. One was to use a kido seal only to have it broken in time due to emotional bursts. Second was to have the hogyoku stored in him which would with time absorb all his reishi and turn him into a complete human with no spiritual senses.

Isshin didn't like either, mostly the second one but went with it because there was high chance of the kido breaking to Ichigo's bursts of rage everyday. And the second one did work. Ichigo's reiatsu has decreased down to half of what it was.

But neither thought that it'd backfire after a year. Not to mention the fact that Ichigo's reiatsu did decrease over the year while Isshin's own was returning. Then there was his hollow spirit but by the tone of Ichigo and his story, the hollow seemed quite protective of his 'king'.

"There is one thing that I can think of. It's highly likely for the hogyoku to have merged with his soul making his human body the same as that of his soul. Has he shown any signs of having similar properties as that of a soul?" Urahara said after a bit of thinking. At least his objective of destroying the hogyoku was unexpectedly achieved.

Isshin thought for a while and said, "He seemed physically more fit and he actually has more strength than a kid his age should have if I take into consideration that his elbow yesterday did hurt a bit than normal."

Urahara hummed and leaned back on his left arm while he held the fan on the other hand. He thought as he stared at the ceiling. "What you said does show signs of his soul merging with his human body. In fact, he can even be considered immortal by the next few years or at the end of his teenage years no thanks to the hogyoku." He sighed as he finished. He was glad that the hogyoku was gone for good but had a nasty feeling that it'll bite him in the back hard. "What will you do now Isshin?"

Isshin looked up at the shopkeeper and said, "He asked what shinigami, Quincies and hollows are this morning and I decided to bring him to you after school to explain."

"Still scared of revealing your secrets Isshin?" Came a gruff masculine voice from beside Urahara making the man jump in shock. The voice belonged to a black cat with golden eyes.

Isshin narrowed his eyes at the cat all the while Urahara complained about scaring him. Isshin said, "I didn't think the time would come so soon. I wanted him to live a normal human life. I'll tell him everything because he even questioned what I am." The cat simply stared at him and licked its paw.

"So you do have balls. Good or I might have had your face gone through plastic surgery."

"Kisuke. Ichigo might end up wishing to learn how to get a hold on his powers. And since I haven't recovered enough to teach him I want you, Yoruichi and Tessai to train him. Can you do that?" Isshin asked seriously.

Kisuke shifted to his shopkeeper persona and said, "My my, how can a humble shopkeeper like me train your son?" Isshin simply punched him and Yoruichi scratched his face. "So cruel." He sobbed and then turned serious. "Are you sure Isshin? Your son will be thrown into a world of blood and gore. Even he might end up finding about your son and make his move."

Isshin sighed and nodded. He knew how his son can be stubborn and determined. Ever since he said that his name meant 'One Guardian', Ichigo has been more than determined to protect his family and friends. Damn hero complex. Not that he's one to talk. He did the same thing he knows what his son will end up doing. Protecting. Maybe it's a genetic disease? 'Probably'. He snorted mentally at that.

"Well then, be sure to bring him after school here then. I'll take care of his school lessons and Zanjutsu. Yoruichi-san will see to his Hoho and Hakuda training. Tessai will see to his kido training."

Isshin nodded and stood up. He'd go back to his home and wait for his kids' school to end. He'll pick up the twins first and have them looked after by a familiar babysitter while he'd take Ichigo to Urahara. He only wondered if his son's zanpakuto would be a 'Getsu' or not. He sported a grin when he thought of leveling up his attacks.

Isshin frowned however when he came to his mind. He had suspicions about the timing of the hollow's arrival and his selection. His head started to ache with questions and possibilities. He slapped his cheeks and stood up to bring his angels home and call the babysitter.

Ichigo came out of his school just in time to see his father leaning against the gate arms crossed waiting for him. 'Shiro-nii' gave him an idea to which a devious grin appeared on his face and dashed at full speed towards his father.

Isshin was a bit confused to see a grin appear on his son's face. He was wondering the reason why? Though he didn't expect his son to dash towards him and half way throw the bag at him. He effortlessly caught the bag and was about to ask why he was so excited and got his answer in the form of his son kicking out his legs making him fall face first on the ground. Ichigo then proceed to lock his arms and hold him down into submission.

"What's wrong old man?! Age catching up to you or something?!" Ichigo laughed still holding his father down. "You let your guard down and this is the result. Never let your guard down!"

Finally Isshin was brought back to his senses out of his confusion when he pieced everything together. Devious grin. Dashing towards him. Throwing the bag at him to use it as a distraction. Kick his legs and hold him in submission. A grin appeared on his face as he struggled to get out of the submission hold his son had on him. A few moments after trying he was set free and picked up Ichigo on his shoulder like a sack of potatoes and headed towards the shop all the while laughing. Both ignored the people giving them weird looks.

He was glad that his son was finally laughing. He asked how'd he get that idea and the answer he got surprised him. 'Shiro-nii' gave him the idea to catch him off guard. He had to admit, the hollow was creative and he also noticed the increase in Ichigo's strength.

Whatever. He'd get his questions answered in the shop.